First solar eclipse of 2026 to miss Pakistan skies

KARACHI: The first solar eclipse of the year will take place today (Tuesday), but it will not be visible in Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

The department said the eclipse will begin at 2:56pm Pakistan time, reach its peak at 5:12pm and conclude at 7:28pm. However, skywatchers in the country will not be able to witness the celestial event.

The eclipse will be visible in parts of Africa and South America. A partial solar eclipse is also expected to be seen across regions of the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.

The PMD stated that the “Ring of Fire” — a hallmark of an annular solar eclipse — will be visible only from Antarctica. In this phenomenon, the moon passes in front of the sun but does not completely cover it, leaving a bright ring of sunlight around its edges.

According to Space.com, observers in a remote area of Antarctica will see up to 96% of the sun obscured for just over two minutes. A partial eclipse will also be visible across parts of Antarctica, southern Africa and the southern tip of South America, as well as over large oceanic regions.

The PMD noted that Pakistan is expected to experience two solar and two lunar eclipses this year, though today’s event will not be among those visible in the country.

Astronomy enthusiasts around the world are encouraged to follow live broadcasts and online streams, as only a limited number of people will be able to witness the full annular phase in person.